WESTFIELD – The Legislative and Ordinance Committee heard two different proposals on Chapter 61A farm land at its meeting on Tuesday, with two different intents. Under Chapter 61A, the city has the right to exercise its option to purchase farm land, which has lower taxes under the classification.
Brandon Osborne (right) explains his request to convert farm land for a building lot to the L&O Committee on Tuesday. (Photo by Amy Porter)
At the meeting, city planner Jay Vinskey submitted a recommendation from the Planning Board that the city exercise its option for two lots of land on Furrowtown Road owned by William Reed which borders Westfield High School.
Previously, Westfield has expressed interest in purchasing Reed’s land for future use by the school. Last year, although the City Council said yes to exercise its option to buy two other parcels of the farm, it did not vote to fund the purchase before time ran out on its option. The two lots being offered on Tuesday were at the other end of the land.
“Why are we doing these one at a time and two at a time,” asked L&O Committee member William Onyski.
Reed’s attorney said the lots come before the city when there is buyer interested in the land. He added that Reed is trying to sell the whole farm as a farm.
“I had to wait a long time for the city. They voted to buy the land, but then voted not to pay for it. I ended up with two house lots in the winter. I have to pay my bills,” Reed said.
“Everything is time sensitive. We went to the Community Preservation Committee to get them to fund it, but (they) said no,” said L&O Committee chair Ralph J. Figy, adding, “I appreciate your time and patience, Mr. Reed.” Figy went on to say that he would like to see the city purchase the whole lot “kit and caboodle.”
L&O Committee member Mary O’Connell made a motion to recommend that the city move to purchase the land under Chapter 61A, which passed 3-0, although Onyski said he would bring his objections to buying one piece at a time to the Council floor on Thursday.
In another Chapter 61A matter, a request to convert farm land at 658 Montgomery Road owned by Timothy and Susan Crane was heard. Brandon Osborne, the Crane’s son-in-law brought the matter to the committee.
“My in-laws graciously gifted my wife and I a parcel of land behind their farm,” Osborne said. He said he has been working on dividing the lot since 2015, and has been before the Planning Board, the Conservation Commission, Army Corps of Engineers, Mass. Fish & Wildlife, and the Mass. Department of Environmental Protection among others to get permissions, all of which he had deeded and recorded with copies for the committee. He said the land is 6.83 acres total, with a 1.43 acre building lot and small bridge on the driveway, and the remainder wetlands with endangered species, and restricted from building. He said he also paid a cash bond of $2,500 to the city.
Timothy Crane said it’s a pretty good deal for the city. “Out of 7 acres, the city gets 5.39 acres of open space, which abuts another 100 acres,” Crane said. He said the city will also get a taxable house building lot with a new house on it.
Onyski made a motion for the city to refuse the right of first refusal on the property, which now goes to the City Council on Thursday. “For being a rookie, you did a good job,” Figy said to Osborne.
